Creek’s aquatic plant growth caught Ackerson remains

Monday

RALEIGH – When a police dive team member located former Kinston resident Laura Jean Ackerson’s head in a Texas creek, it was already bald.

Houston Police Department dive team member Brian Davis explained in detail Monday his team’s steps in locating Ackerson’s remains in the trial of Amanda Perry Hayes, who stands accused of acting with her husband, Grant, to kill Ackerson in 2011.

Ackerson was Grant Hayes’ ex-girlfriend and the mother of two of his children.

Grant Hayes was convicted of first-degree murder in September.

Davis said on July 24, 2011, the dive team went to Oyster Creek – near Amanda Hayes’ sister’s residence outside Richmond, Texas – noting team members were essentially working blind because of the dark water’s opacity.

Not too far from Amanda’s sister’s house, a thick wall of aquatic vegetation stretched from bank to bank. Davis said team members found most of Ackerson’s remains among this overgrowth of lilies, but that the air temperature, humidity and near 90-degree temperature of the creek itself led to significant decomposition.

“We noticed a sheen across the top of the water” and a distinct odor of decomposing remains, Davis said.

He noted bony remains, like hands and feet, tend to rest on waterbeds – Ackerson’s hands and feet were never recovered. What law enforcement officials did find went to medical examiners in Galveston County. Those involved with Ackerson’s autopsies and other members of law enforcement are expected to take the stand today.

Brad Wichard, a detective with the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, gave testimony confirming surveillance camera images of Amanda Hayes at Richmond ATMs at the time authorities believe the couple was preparing the disposal of Ackerson’s remains.

He also confirmed a video of Grant Hayes purchasing items like a large black garbage can, neoprene gloves and muriatic acid at a Richmond Home Depot.

Investigators found muriatic acid not far from where it’s believed Ackerson’s remains were dumped.

Soil from the pig pen on Amanda Hayes’ sister’s property showed evidence of muriatic acid use, according to Timothy Suggs of the State Crime Lab.

In Grant Hayes’ trial, the prosecution accused him of dousing Ackerson’s head in muriatic acid in the pig pen so as to remove evidence of her identity. Johnny Gaskins, counsel for Amanda Hayes, said they are not disputing Ackerson’s identity in the remains found in the creek.

The trial resumes at 9:30 a.m. today.

Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.

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